UNICEF Supports Program for Pregnant Teen Girls in Sierra Leone

Carmen Maria Montiel

Former Miss Venezuela and award winning television journalist Carmen María Montiel is active in her community at home in Houston. In addition to several charities and community organizations that she supports, Carmen María Montiel has been on the UNICEF board of directors since 2009.

UNICEF is a major humanitarian organization that benefits children and youth worldwide. Recently, UNICEF collaborated with several other organizations in a new initiative to provide education to pregnant women in Sierra Leone. Generally, visibly pregnant girls cannot go to public school in Sierra Leone, and the recent Ebola outbreak had most schools closed down. During the crisis, the rate of teen pregnancy increased, with about 14,000 teen girls affected. These girls are at a high risk of not returning to school, and a lack of education can be a contributing factor to the cycle of poverty in many families.

The UNICEF-supported educational program offers pregnant and recently pregnant girls a chance to resume and maintain their education and get the skills they need to go on to provide for themselves and their families.

Former Miss Venezuela and award winning television journalist Carmen María Montiel is active in her community at home in Houston. In addition to several charities and community organizations that she supports, Carmen María Montiel has been on the UNICEF board of directors since 2009.

UNICEF is a major humanitarian organization that benefits children and youth worldwide. Recently, UNICEF collaborated with several other organizations in a new initiative to provide education to pregnant women in Sierra Leone. Generally, visibly pregnant girls cannot go to public school in Sierra Leone, and the recent Ebola outbreak had most schools closed down. During the crisis, the rate of teen pregnancy increased, with about 14,000 teen girls affected. These girls are at a high risk of not returning to school, and a lack of education can be a contributing factor to the cycle of poverty in many families.

The UNICEF-supported educational program offers pregnant and recently pregnant girls a chance to resume and maintain their education and get the skills they need to go on to provide for themselves and their families.